Modular Vehicle Chassis with Docking Fixtures for Interchangeable Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle design often results in inefficiencies due to the production of nearly identical vehicles that are not tailored to specific deployment scenarios, leading to mismatched operational characteristics and limited adaptability, scalability, and maintainability.
Innovation Solution
A modular vehicle construction method featuring a chassis with docking fixtures for removably connecting modules such as energy supply, energy storage, and cooling modules, facilitating adaptable and scalable vehicle design by allowing for the swapping and upgrading of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicles are designed to satisfy the most rigorous demands from all deployment scenarios, then operational requirements are satisfied, but vehicles deployed in less demanding situations have unused capacities resulting in inefficient design
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into a base platform and separate interchangeable modules (engine modules, transmission modules, mission modules). This segmentation allows the base vehicle to be configured with different module combinations tailored to specific deployment scenarios, eliminating unused capacities while ensuring rigorous demands are met when required modules are installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle configuration is made dynamic through the ability to swap modules based on deployment requirements. Rather than a fixed design, the system allows operational characteristics to be changed by replacing modules, enabling the same base vehicle to adapt to varying demands from patrol duties to heavy towing operations.
2Productivity
If vehicles are designed with balanced operational characteristics to satisfy median requirements, then unused resources are reduced, but vehicles cannot fully satisfy operational characteristics demanded by more rigorous situations
Solution Approach 1:
The base vehicle platform is designed with universal interfaces and mounting structures that can accommodate multiple types of modules. This multi-functionality allows a single base vehicle to serve multiple mission profiles by simply changing modules, ensuring both efficient resource utilization in routine operations and full capability under rigorous demands when appropriate modules are installed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a vehicle is designed about a particular engine and transmission, then the vehicle construction is simplified, but the vehicle cannot be readily altered or upgraded to accept different engines or transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The powertrain system is segmented into separate, interchangeable engine modules and transmission modules with standardized interfaces. Each module is designed as an independent unit that can be removed and replaced without affecting the base vehicle structure, simplifying construction while enabling easy upgrades and alterations.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle design incorporates standardized interface parameters (mounting points, connection protocols, control interfaces) that remain constant while allowing different engine and transmission modules with varying parameters (power output, torque, gear ratios) to be installed. This enables both construction simplicity through standardization and adaptability through parameter variation.
4Reliability
If different interfaces are used between various vehicle components, then component specificity is maintained, but it becomes more difficult to reuse or swap components between different types of vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
A universal interface standard is implemented across all modules and the base vehicle platform. This includes standardized mechanical mounting points, electrical connectors, and control communication protocols that allow components to be reused across different vehicle types and configurations, maintaining reliability through consistent interfaces while enabling broad adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of constructing a modular vehicle is provided. A modular vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis. The docking fixtures may include an electrical power connection, a fluid connection and a data communication connection. The modular vehicle may also include a plurality of modules removably connected to respective ones of the docking fixtures. The plurality of modules may include at least an energy supply module, such as a fuel cell, an energy storage module and a cooling module. At least one module may include an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of a docking fixture, at least one module may include a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of a docking fixture and at least one module may include a data communication connection coupled to the data communication connection of a docking fixture.